Parking
Park at Brooks Falls Overlook on River Road (WV 26), then cross the road to the Big Branch Trailhead. From the west end of the WV 20 bridge in Hinton, follow River Road north about five miles. The road is narrow and single-lane in sections.
Overview
About Big Branch Trail
Why go
- Repeated creekside cascades on a short loop
- Old Berry family homestead remains and spring wildflowers
Heads up
- Rocky creek crossings can be slick
- Very steep return descent
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the New River Gorge map
Full mapElevation1,340–1,870 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
5 active New River Gorge alerts
- ClosureRend and Church Loop trails closedRend Trail is closed from both trailheads through approximately December 2027; Church Loop Trail is also closed because its only access is from Rend.Official details
- ClosureKaymoor Miners Trail weekday closureThe upper Kaymoor Miners Trail is closed Monday–Thursday through November 19 for trail rehabilitation.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
New River Gorge Tour Guide
Your drive to Big Branch Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for New River Gorge National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the New River Gorge audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Brooks Falls: A Quick River Stop0:00 / 0:31
“You're approaching Brooks Falls Roadside Park, a quick river-view stop with picnic tables beside a broad stretch of whitewater.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf New River Gorge Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- One Pawpaw, Many Trunks
- When Berry Holler Was a Farm
- The Caterpillar’s False Eyes
- A Bear Cub’s Winter Birthday
- 92 audio storiesacross New River Gorge’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Black Bear, White-tailed Deer, Pileated Woodpecker, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 49 trails, 55 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Big Branch Trail
The loopBig Branch Trail is a strenuous 2-mile loop from Brooks Falls.
Big Branch Trail is a strenuous 2-mile loop from Brooks Falls. It climbs beside Big Branch through a shaded hollow, passes cascades and old farmstead remains, reaches a wooded ridge with glimpses of the New River, then drops steeply toward the start. Allow about 1½–2 hours; rocky footing and several creek crossings make the short mileage feel bigger.
Take the creek side slowlyThe park’s route description sends hikers up the left, or south, branch alongside the creek.
The park’s route description sends hikers up the left, or south, branch alongside the creek. The crossings are rocky and can be slippery; wear grippy shoes, and poles may help. Crossing counts vary by direction and exact line, so expect several rather than a fixed number. High water after heavy rain can make fords unsafe. The cascades are most rewarding when there has been enough rain; flow can dwindle in midsummer.
Berry HollerThis wooded ravine was once pasture and hayfield.
This wooded ravine was once pasture and hayfield. The trail follows an old wagon road past the Berry family’s house site, barn remnants, a stone wall, and a roofless root cellar. Bertha Huffman, who grew up here and left after marrying in 1945, called it Berry Holler; her memories are part of the park’s oral-history collection.
Cascades and spring flowersBig Branch steps over rocky ledges into a series of small falls.
Big Branch steps over rocky ledges into a series of small falls. Their flow changes with rainfall, so expect a chain of cascades along the stream rather than one guaranteed waterfall. Early spring is a good time for trout lilies, spring beauties, toothwort, and bloodroot; iris and daffodils persist near the homestead site.
Ridge and returnAbove the creek, the trail climbs to the ridge for a few tree-framed views of the gorge and…
Above the creek, the trail climbs to the ridge for a few tree-framed views of the gorge and river. The return drops very steeply toward the trailhead, with glimpses of Brooks Falls through the trees. Brooks Falls is the river overlook by the parking area; it is separate from the smaller cascades along Big Branch.
Getting there and what to bringPark at Brooks Falls Overlook on River Road (WV 26), then cross the road to the signed…
Park at Brooks Falls Overlook on River Road (WV 26), then cross the road to the signed trailhead. From the west end of the WV 20 bridge in Hinton, the approach is about five miles north; River Road is narrow and single-lane in places. A vault toilet is at the parking area, but there is no drinking water at trailheads. Dogs are allowed on a physical leash no longer than six feet. Bring your own water.
Wildlife
Wildlife in New River Gorge
18 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
126 sightingsWhite-tailed DeerMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
25 sightingsPileated WoodpeckerMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
15 sightingsBarred OwlMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
14 sightingsWild TurkeyMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
58 sightingsCopperheadMost seen around 7 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across New River Gorge. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
